Charity said David Wylie’s behaviour was below the standard expected
A 400-year-old charity-run college focused on healthcare has been forced to apologise after one of its leading figures posted anti-trans content on his social media.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) - a self-described ”inclusive, global community” - said that “hurt” will have been caused ahead of its flagship International Conference of Podiatric Medicine, which begins on Wednesday.
The Dean of the college’s Faculty of Podiatric Medicine, David Wylie - who has been the face of the event on social media - has now deleted his X/Twitter account.
Throughout the Olympics, Mr Wylie posted over 30 times on the social media platform sharing content which falsely claimed that men had been allowed to compete against women, with a particular focus on trans individuals and what he described as “biological men” in the women’s categories.
Much of the ire followed attacks on Algerian boxer Imane Khelif after it was falsely claimed that she was being allowed to compete despite being “male”.
High-profile figures such as JK Rowling and Elon Musk led online attacks on Ms Khelif, with significant misinformation being shared as a result.
The row centred on the 25-year-old having been previously disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the women’s World Championships after allegedly failing a “gender eligibility test”.
The IBA had been expelled by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over financial and corruption concerns, and has since failed to provide any proof of its findings on Khalife.
The Algerian Olympic Committee, the AOC, said Ms Khelif had been the victim of “unethical targeting”, “maligning”, and “baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets” during the Olympics in Paris.
Khelif went on to win gold and has now lodged a legal case due to online harassment, which included what is being described as a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign”.
Fellow boxer Lin Yu Ting of Taiwan faced similar attacks at the Olympics, despite also being born a woman and competing alongside other women at the Olympics.
Hugh Torrance, executive director of LEAP Sports - Scotland's LGBTQI+ sports charity - told TFN: "The bullying and harassment of women athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics including Imane Khelif, who represented Algeria, and Lin Yu-ting, who represented Taiwan, was abhorrent and shameful. Both women have been subjected to unprecedented levels of online abuse, vitriol and harassment, as well as much misinformed speculation about their gender.
"Those in positions of leadership, seniority and influence have a responsibility to uphold the truth and foster informed discourse, rather than fuelling falsehoods that can mislead the public and undermine trust. Such conduct is not only disgraceful but also a betrayal of the trust placed in those who hold such positions. Whilst so many have had to apologise, retract or delete traces of their behaviours, it is little comfort to those who have already suffered through the abuse they have encouraged.
"All of us have a responsibility to avoid spreading misinformation, and the Khelif/Yu-ting situation is a reminder to stop and consider the impact of our actions before adding to online frenzies of abuse."
Mr Wylie of the RCPSG posted on X/Twitter more than 30 times between July 28 and August 6, sharing content which included comparing the athletes to a rapist, and claiming that their inclusion could lead to the deaths of women during competition.
Another post appeared to blame the “gender self ID brigade” - a clear reference to campaigning in favour of transgender rights - for a “biological male beating up a woman in the Olympics”, which was described as “truly sick”.
Both Ms Khelif and Ms Yu Ting were continually misgendered by Mr Wylie on his X/Twitter profile.
He also shared one post claiming there was a “global push by governments, institutions, corporations and NGOs” which had led to “mass gaslighting” and “sex denialism”, while another said that there were several “male athletes competing as women” at the Olympics.
Mr Wylie’s final post read: “In the 1940’s males faked their age to fight in WWII. In 2024, males pretend to be females to win in sports.”
The RCPSG’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy states that the college is “committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and providing a culture which actively values difference”, stating that those in leadership positions, such as Mr Wylie, should act as “as overall champions” on equality, diversity and inclusion.
It reads: “The College will not tolerate processes, attitudes and behaviour that amounts to direct discrimination, associative discrimination, discrimination by perception, indirect discrimination including harassment (harassment by a third party), victimisation and bullying through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and stereotyping.”
The RCPSG facilitates postgraduate medical education, offering examinations that lead to membership and fellowship to appropriately qualified physicians, surgeons, dental surgeons and podiatrists.
They also offer a number of specialist postgraduate diplomas to medical practitioners in various subjects including dermatology, child health, geriatric medicine, travel health, ophthalmology, and dentistry.
Among its listed values the RCPSG includes “community”, “inclusivity”, and “integrity”.
After the posts were raised with the RCPSG by TFN, Mr Wylie’s X/Twitter account was removed.
He is set to present on three occasions at this week’s conference as the college’s most senior fellow on podiatry.
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow told TFN: “We have become aware that a member of our community has retweeted content that is not in keeping with our college values.
“Our college is committed to inclusivity, and we are sorry for the hurt caused by these posts.
“We have reminded all members of our council of their responsibilities in relation to social media, and we are actively reviewing our social media policy.”
